Safety gas-fueled candle



; R. L. BU'RCHETT ETAL 3,349,577

Oct. 31, 1967 I SAFETY GAS-FUELED CANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed been;1964 INVENTORS, I PAY BURCHETT 7?) P SA/N ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,349,577 SAFETY GAS-FUELED CANDLE Ray L. Burchett, North Bergen, andJohn P. Sain, Union City, N.J., assignors to Jacques KreislerManufacturing Corporation, North Bergen, N.J., a corporation of NewJerse y Filed Dec. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 415,915

7 Claims. (Cl. 67-87) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A safety gas-fueledcandle including a control valve, a maximum flame height pressureregulating valve and a gravity-responsive valve in series between anelongated reservoir holding a supply of fuel and a burner at the top ofthe candle together with means at the candle base for operating thecontrol valve. The burner is mounted for movement to permit thegravity-responsive valve to be manually reset after operation thereof. Ashell normally houses the pressure regulating valve to render itinaccessible. The shell provides a readily replaceable decorative cover.

Our invention relates to gas-fueled candles and more particularly to animproved safety gas-fueled candle which is automatically shut off in theevent that the candle topples from its normally vertical position.

There are known in the prior art candles which are fueled with liquefiedgas such, for example, as butane. When the on-oif valve of the candle isopened, gas under pressure is expelled from the candle burner and may beignited. In candles of the prior art, in the event that the candleaccidentally falls over the flame may ignite flammable articles orotherwise damage articles of furniture and the like.

Some gas-fueled candles of the prior art are provided with an on-oifvalve which in addition to permitting the escape of gas to the burnermouth affords some adjustment of flame height. In such arrangements thevalve may accidentally be adjusted to a condition at which it permitsthe escape of an inordinate amount of gas so that a flame far beyond thedesired maximum results. The danger to persons and articles in theenvironment of such a device will readily be apparent.

Gas-fueled candles of the prior art customarily are provided either witha translucent housing so that the level of the fuel remaining isapparent or they may be provided with a metal fuel tank which is paintedin a color to simulate the appearance of a candle. While these candlesfunction in the manner of the ordinary wax candle to provide light, theyare generally unattractive and their appearance is not readily altered.

We have invented a safety gas-fueled candle which overcomes the defectsof candles of the prior art pointed out hereinabove. Our gas-fueledcandle automatically shuts off the supply of fuel in the event that thecandle moves a predetermined distance from its normally vertical posi--gas-fueled candle which avoids the danger of fire resulting when thecandle topples from its normally vertical position.

A further object of our invention is to provide a safety gas-fueledcandle in which the supply of gas is automatically cut off when thecandle falls from its normally vertical position.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a safety gas-fueledcandle which may readily be relit after the supply of gas has beenautomatically cut off.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide a safety gas-fueledcandle having means for determining the maximum flame height.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a safetygas-fueled candle, the apperauce of which can readily be changed.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from thefollowing description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of a safetygas-fueled candle in which a manually actuatable element adjacent thecandle base operates a shutofii valve disposed in series with a maximumflame height adjusting valve and a normally open gravity responsivevalve adjacent the top of the candle between the reservoir and theburner. A readily replaceable decorative shell houses the flame heightadjusting element. In the event that the candle falls from its normallyvertical position to actuate the gravity responsive valve, the burnermay be actuated to reset that valve.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instantspecification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and inwhich like reference numerals are used to indicate'like parts in thevarious views:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation illustrating the appearance of our safetygas-fueled valve.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of our safety gas-fueled valve.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of our safety gas-fueled valve taken alongthe line 33 of FIGURE 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of our safety gas-fueled valve taken alongthe line 44 of FIGURE 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of our safety gas-fueled candleillustrating the mode of operation of the gravity-responsive valvethereof.

hollow base 10 receives a rotor 16 which is held in position within thebase by an end cap 18 threaded onto the lower end of the rotor.Conveniently we form the rotor 16 and the base 10 with flats 17 so as tofacilitate rotation of each with the other. Moreover we make the base 10of a resilient material such as rubber or the like which facilitates theassembly operations to be described hereinbelow. We provide the rotor 16with an axially extending bore having a portion 20 of a noncircularcross-sectional shape such, for example, as a square shape. Belowportion 20 the bore has a circular cross-sectional portion 22 and anenlarged bore portion 24. The enlarged bore portion 24 receives a valve26 normally urged by a spring 28 into engagement with a seat formed byan O-ring 30 held in a recess 32 below bore portion 24 by a retainer 36carried by the end cap 18. Valve 26 is adapted to be moved upwardlyagainst the action of spring 28 to permit liquefied gas to be introducedinto the candle to replenish the supply. This may be achieved by use ofan adapter such as is shown in the copending application of Ray L.Burchett, Ser. No. 299,137, filed July 19, 1963, for a Refill Valve forGas Lighter, now Patent No. 3,217,762.

An annular shoulder 38 on the outside of rotor 16 receives the lower endof a reservoir support 40. rings 42 and 44 carried by the rotor providea gastight seal between the rotor and the support 40. We secure anelongated tube 46 to the support 40 by means of solder 48. As will beapparent from the description given hereinbelow, the tube 46 forms thetank or reservoir of our gas-fueled candle. We mount a valve housing 50on the upper end of the tube 46 bysolder 52. Interior threads on theupper end of the housing 50 receive an actuatable element 54 adpated tobe turned in a manner to be described to adjust the maximum flame heightto which the candle can be set. Element 54 bears on a flange 56 at thelower end of a burner guide 58. The guide 58 bears on a housing 60, thelower end of which is supported by a pressure plate 62. Pressure plate62 rests on filter discs 64 carried by the on-off valve seat holder 66which rests on the base 68 of a recess in the housing 60. The holder 66receives on-ofi valve seat 70 formed of a suitable resilient materialsuch, for example, as rubber. We form the seat 70 with an opening 72through which gas may flow into an opening 74 in holder 66. From theopening 74 the fuel passes through the filter discs 64 and around theedges of the pressure plate 62 into the housing 60. An =O-ring 76disposed between flange 56 and housing 60 prevents the flow of fuelupwardly between housing 60 and the wall of housing 50.

A threaded bore 78 in the base of housing 50 receives the threaded upperend 80 of a rod 82. Rod 82 is adapted to be turned to move the upper endthereof into engagement with the seat 70 to shut oif the flow of fuelfrom within the tube 46 to the opening 72. Normally when the upper endof the rod 82 hasbeen moved away from the seat 70, fuel flows betweenthe threads of bore 78 and the threads on the portion 80 of the rod 82.To achieve this result we may, for example, cut 0.99 thread on 0.93stock in making the threaded upper end 80 of the rod 82.

Rod 82 has generally the .same cross-sectional shape as does the boreportion 20. In the course of assembling our gas-fueled candle, the valveassembly together with the tube 46 and support 40 is assembled onthe'rotor by passing the lower end of the rod 82 into the bore 20. 'Itwill be seen that we countersink the upper end of the bore 20 tofacilitate this operation.

We form the rotor 16 with a peripheral annular groove 84 having astop 86at one location therearound. After the valve assembly has been slippedon the rotor assembly with the lower end of rod 82 extending into thebore portion 20, we thread a setscrew 88 through the support '40. 'Screw88 extends into the groove 84 and permits the rotor 16 to be turnedrelative to the support 40 through a distance determined by theinterengagement of the screw 88 with the stop 86. In response to thisrelative rotation, the upper end 80 of the rod 82'moves toward or awayfrom the seat '70.

As :has been explained hereinabove, when the upper end 80 'moves awayfrom seat 70, fuel flows through -thethreaded bore 78, through opening72, through opening 74, through the filter material 64 and around theedge of plate 62 and between the plate and the lower end of housing 60to the space within the housing. We

dispose a ball retainer 90 within the housing 60. Retainer issubstantially vertical, the force of gravity acting on the ball 96 issufficient to hold it away from seat 94. However, when the candle movesout of its generally vertical position, ball 96 moves into engagementwith seat 94 to shut off the supply of gas. Owing to the pressure of thegas, the ball remains in engagement with the seat until it is positivelyrestored to its position out of engagement with the seat in a manner tobe described.

We provide our valve with a burner 14 extending through an opening 100at the top of the adjustable element 54. A spring 102 bears between aflange surrounding an opening 104 in the base of guide 58 and a flange106 formed in burner 14 normally to urge the flange into engagement withthe top of the element 54.

Gas traveling past the seat 94 enters the bore of the burner 14 andtravels outwardly therethrough. If desired, we may thread the shank 108of a flame contour having a head 110 into the tip 14 to shape the flameas desired.

'In the event that the lighted candle topples so that ball 96 moves intoengagement with seat 94 to shut off the supply of gas, the ball willremain in that position under the pressure of the gas even when thecandle is reerected. If now it is desired to relight the candle, thismay expeditiously be accomplished merely by depressing burner 14 againstthe action of spring 102 to move the lower end of the burner against theaction of spring 102 past the seat 94 to move the ball away from theseat'to permit the gas to flow around the ball. Since the'pressure ofthe gas is no longer holding the ball against the seat, the valve willremain in this position until the candle topples.

We provide our candle with a readily removable shell 112 carrying acoating of material such, for example, as candle wax. We may removablymount shell 112 on the candle by any convenient means. For example, wemay thread headed screws 116 into the support 40 at a position below theupper end of base ,10. The lower end of the tube 112 can be providedwith slots 118 adapted to fit over the heads of screws 116 as the tube112 is frictionally slid over the lower end of the support 40. We couldof course use other suitable mounting means such, for example, asdetents formed in the tube 112 and adapted to snap into slots orrecesses in the support.

It is to be understood that we contemplate that a number of shells 112carrying a variey of decorative coatings 114 will be used with ourcandle. It will readily be understood that the shells may be changed tosuit various color schemes and they may as well be changed with theseasons. Thus rather than being obliged to purchase a large number ofcandles, the consumer need purchase only one candle and a large varietyof different decorative covers can be used with the same candle. We alsocontemplate forming the decorative covering 114 from candle assemble theregulating valve, the on-ofi valve and the gravity-responsive valve toform an upper subassembly includingtube 46 and support 40, as well asrod 82. We form the lower subassembly including the base 10, the refillvalve and the rotor 16. To complete the assembly of our candle, we slipthe support 40 over the rotor 16 and at the same time insert the rod 82into the bore portion 20. When these operations have beenachieved, wethread the setscrew 88 through the support to .position it so that itsinner end is in the groove 84. Under these conditions the parts are heldtogether and the rotor 16 can be turned .relative to the support40.through nearly a complete revolution as determined by the stop 86.Next, we assemble the shell 112 carrying the desired decorative coatingover the candle.

In use of our safety gas-fueled candle, the element 54 is set to givethe desired maximum flame height before the outer decorative shell isplaced on the candle. When this has been done, the candle is ready foruse. Normally rotor 16 occupies such a position that the upper end 80 ofthe rod 82 prevents any flow of gas from inside the reservoir to theopening 72. To light the candle, base is actuated to turn the rotor 16to move the end 80 away from the seat 70. When this is done, gas flowsupwardly through the threaded bore 78, through opening 72, throughopening 74, through the filter material 64 and around the edge of plate62 into housing 60. If the candle is upright, gas flows past the ball 96and past the seat into the passage of the burner 14. Gas issuing fromthe burner 14 may then be ignited. Rotor 16 can be turned to a greateror lesser extent to regulate the flame to the desired height within themaximum provided 'by the adjustment of member 54.

If for any reason the candle is upset so that it falls toward thehorizontal, the force-of gravity acting on the ball 96 is lessened untilthe ball moves into engagement with the seat 94. Once the ball arrivesat that position, the pressure of the gas behind the ball will hold itin that position even after the candle is re-erected. If that occurs,ball 96 can be reset by moving burner 14 downwardly to move the ballaway from the seat. If the candle is erect, the ball will remain awayfrom the seat. The refill valve 26 permits the supply of fuel to bereplenished in the manner described in the copending Burchettapplication.

To change the color or configuration of the candle, the user merelyremoves the shell 112 carrying a particular decorative covering 114 andsubstitutes any other desired covering therefor.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention.We have provided a safety gas-fueled candle which automatically shutsoff in the event the candle moves from its normally vertical position.Our candle can readily and expeditiously be relit in the event itautomatically shuts off. We provide our candle with means for settingthe flame height to a certain maximum flame height. Our improved candlemay readily be assembled. The particular style of the candle may bechanged in a simple and convenient manner.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of ourclaims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of our claims without departing from the spiritof our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our inventionis not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A gas-fueled device normally occupying a generally vertical positionincluding in combination, an elongated tube holding a supply ofliquefied normally gaseous fuel, a candle-shaped sleeve, means removablymounting said sleeve on said tube, a burner having an opening throughwhich fuel from said reservoir may pass, an actuatable control valve, anormally open gravity-responsive valve adapted to close in response todisplacement of said device from said normally vertical position, anadjustable pressure regulating valve, said regulating valve beingoperable independently of said control valve to set the maximum heightto which the flame at said burner can be set in response to operation ofsaid control valve, said sleeve housing said regulating valve normallyto render it inaccessible, means mounting said control valve and saidregulating valve and said gravity-responsive valve in series betweensaid reservoir and the atmosphere, and means accessible from outsidesaid sleeve for operating said control valve.

2. A gas-fueled device normally occupying a generally vertical positionincluding in combination, a reservoir holding a supply of liquefiednormally gaseous fuel, a burner having an opening through which fuelfrom said reservoir may pass, an actuatable control valve, a normallyopen gravity-responsive valve adapted to close in response todisplacement of said device from said normally vertical position, anadjustable pressure regulating valve for setting the maximum height towhich the flame at said burner can be set in response to operation ofsaid control valve, means mounting said control valve and saidregulating valve and said gravity-responsive valve in series betweensaid reservoir and the atmosphere, normally inaccessible means forsetting said pressure regulating valve and normally accessible means forsetting said control valve independently of said pressure regulatingvalve.

3. A gas-fueled device normally occupying a generally vertical positionincluding in combination a reservoir holding a supply of normallygaseous liquefied fuel, a burner having an opening through which fuelfrom said reservoir may pass, means forming a valve seat be tween saidreservoir and said burner, an element adapted to engage said seat, meansretaining said element adjacent said seat for movement under theinfluence of gravity from a position out of engagement with said seatwhen said device occupies said generally vertical position to a positionin engagement with said seat in response to displacement of said devicefrom said position, said retaining means permitting a buildup ofpressure of said fuel behind said element to retain said element inengagement with said seat against the influence of gravity when saiddevice is restored to said position after having become displacedtherefrom and means mounting said burner for movement from a normalposition to a position to engage said element to move it away from saidseat after movement of said element into engagement with the seat.

4. In a gas-fueled device normally occupying a generally verticalposition, a reservoir for holding a supply of normally gaseous liquefiedfuel, a burner carried by said tank, said burner having an openingthrough which fuel from said tank may flow, means forming a passagebetween said reservoir and said burner, a normally opengravity-responsive valve disposed in said passage between said reservoirand said burner, a valve seat in said passage adapted to cooperate withsaid valve in response to displacement of said device from saidgenerally vertical position to close said valve, said passage permittinga buildup of pressure of said fuel behind said valve to retain saidvalve in engagement with said seat against the influence of gravity whensaid device is restored to said position after having become displacedtherefrom, means mounting said burner on said tank for movement betweena first position away from said seat and a second position to engagesaid valve to move said valve away from said seat to reset the valve,and means biasing said burner to the first position.

5. A gas-fueled device as in claim 4 in which said reservoir iselongated, a base on said reservoir, a rotor carried by said base formovement therewith, a control valve disposed between said reservoir andsaid burner adjacent the top of the reservoir, means disposed adjacentthe bottom of said reservoir for mounting said reservoir on said rotorfor limited rotary movement and means responsive to rotary movement ofsaid rotor for operating said control valve.

6. A gas-fueled device as in claim 4 in which said reservoir iselongated, a base, a rotor carried by said base for movement therewith,a control valve disposed between said reservoir and said burner adjacentthe top of the reservoir, said rotor having an annular groove therein,said groove having a stop therealong, a setscrew carried by saidreservoir and extending into said groove to permit limited rotarymovement of said reservoir with reference to said rotor, said rotorhaving an opening with a noncircular cross-sectional shape and a rod foroperating said control valve, said rod having a portion disposed withinsaid rotor opening, said rod .portion having a cross-sectional shapecorresponding to the shape of said opening.

7. A gas-fueled device as in claim 4 in which said reservoir iselongated, a shell simulating the appearance of a candle and means fordetachably assembling said shell over said reservoir.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Geiger 13738 X Rudisill 13738 XRisk 13738 X Falligant et al. 6787 Kornmer et al. 6787 10 JAMES W.WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner.

1. A GAS-FUELED DEVICE NORMALLY OCCUPYING A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITIONINCLUDING IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED TUBE HOLDING A SUPPLY OFLIQUEFIED NORMALLY GASEOUS FUEL, A CANDLE-SHAPED SLEEVE, MEANS REMOVABLYMOUNTING SAID SLEEVE ON SAID TUBE, A BURNER HAVING AN OPENING THROUGHWHICH FUEL FROM SAID RESERVOIR MAY PASS, AN ACTUATABALE CONTROL VALVE, ANORMALLY OPEN GRAVITY-RESPONSIVE VALVE ADAPTED TO CLOSE IN RESPONSE TODISPLACEMENT OF SAID DEVICE FROM SAID NORMALLY VERTICAL POSITION, ANADJUSTABLE PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE, SAID REGULATING VALVE BEINGOPERABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID CONTROL VALVE TO SET THE MAXIMUM HEIGHTTO WHICH THE FLAME AT SAID BURNER CAN BE SET IN RESPONSE TO OPERATION OFSAID CONTROL VALVE, SAID SLEEVE HOUSING SAID REGULATING VALVE NORMALLYTO RENDER IT INACCESSIBLE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID CONTROL VALVE AND SAIDREGULATING VALVE AND SAID GRAVITY-RESPONSIVE VALVE IN SERIES BETWEENSAID RESERVOIR AND THE ATMOSPHERE, AND MEANS ACCESSIBLE FROM OUTSIDESAID SLEEVE FOR OPERATING SAID CONTROL VALVE.